A new micro-credential program will soon be offered at Selkirk College, aimed at helping residents of rural and Indigenous communities build relevant skill sets to foster economic growth in their areas.
The 12-week micro-credential program, led by North Island College (NIC), includes six individual stackable courses specifically designed to enhance economic development capacity for rural and remote municipalities, local governments, and Indigenous communities.
The courses will be offered both in-person and online, enabling participants to gain skills applicable across various sectors, including healthcare and trades, to support community-based training and workforce integration.
“The really great thing about this micro credential is that it creates an accessible opportunity for municipal staff to build some internal capacity and institutional knowledge that remains in the community. It’ll support communities’ ability to chart their own economic and community development paths,” said Maggie Matear, Selkirk College president and CEO.
Topics covered will include rural community development, entrepreneurship, market research and analysis, and infrastructure and resource development.
The curriculum also features a final project where students will apply their knowledge beyond the classroom to help design an economic development plan for a municipality or a First Nations community.
This program is a NIC-led joint venture involving six other participating public rural colleges, including Selkirk College and the College of the Rockies.
NIC will engage with local communities, industry experts, and First Nations to build a program and curriculum that align with the visions and needs of the people in those areas.
The Province is supporting the development of the micro-credential program with $278,000.
NIC will be the primary coordinating institution for program development and delivery, collaborating with Coast Mountain College, College of New Caledonia, College of the Rockies, Northern Lights College, Okanagan College, and Selkirk College.
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